Beneficial herb properties: Do they survive saponification?

[Guest]

For example, if you steep herbs in olive oil, will the beneficial properties of those herbs survive saponification and be imparted to the finished soap?

 

[IrishLass]

In regard to the CP (Cold Process) method of soapmaking, from what I've read about it on all the soaping forums I'm a member of, the consensus seems to be a really big 'no' on that question. The saponification process is just to harsh on them.

I wonder, though, if they would remain intact if you added a bit of the herb-infused olive oil as a superfatting oil after the cook in the HP (Hot Process) method of soapmaking, when all the lye has already been reacted? Maybe someone experienced with HP can clue us in on that.


IrishLass

 

[carebear]

in a wash-off product, which is designed to remove oils I'd say it's unlikely to provide any benefit. it's not even likely that the superfatting oils are deposited on the skin or anything...

just my opinion, of course.

 

[lathermaker]

IMHO I do believe that "some" of the benefits survive the lye monster, the trick is to use heavily infused oils along with the EO if possible.

I did an experiment using the same basic soap formula & EO's. One batch had infused oils, the other not. I then sent blind samples to my victims.errmmm testers. I also made sure that the soaps were tinted the same, but different shapes so I could tell them apart. My testers did prefer the soap that had the infused oils in them.

For what it's worth.

 

[carebear]

what herbs and what benefit did they provide?

 

[honor435]

Re: Beneficial herb properties: Do they survive saponificati

For example, if you steep herbs in olive oil, will the beneficial properties of those herbs survive saponification and be imparted to the finished soap?

i DO know that essential oils have health properties, like lavender is proven to help w burns. But.. if they are washed off and not absorbed through the skin they prob wont benefit, just my opinion.

 

[IanT]

This would be an awesome study to conduct... how I wish I had a GC machine and a centrifuge..... aaaaaah

 

[kellistarr]

I don't know if there is any true benefit to adding herbs to a wash-off product. I add herbs for exfoliation and it adds interest to the soaps appearance. If there is any more benefit than that, I hope I'm getting it.
I like adding herbal powders and doing oil infusions. I don't know if I'm getting any benefit from that either, but I like doing it.

 

[kaseencook]

Even though soap is "wash off" I know that I can definitely feel a difference to my skin compared to using store soap - silkier, less sticky, ect. If soap just washes off, I doubt I would feel a difference in my skin after use of different soaps (especially cheap store soap).

Even though it doesn't LOOK like anything remains after a wash, I believe that a small amount of super fatted oils remain, and if the oils contained goodies, it may be beneficial after a number of uses. Goat's milk soap has been hailed as beneficial to skin conditions, so I do not think that it is impossible to think that herbal/medicated soap can deliver benefits.

I also think that some properties of herbs can survive lye. I make mainly canola soap, which is at high risk of oxidation of super fatted oils. To combat oxidation the soap needs antioxidants, so I brew Ceylon, oolong, or green tea in the lye water (for certain soaps). I know that antioxidants must survive the lye because my soaps do not DOS compared to the exact same recipe without tea. I guess not every chemical in herbs will react with NaOH, so it is definitely possible that some will remain and they may or may not make a difference to skin.

 

[Bubli]

in a wash-off product, which is designed to remove oils I'd say it's unlikely to provide any benefit. it's not even likely that the superfatting oils are deposited on the skin or anything...

just my opinion, of course.

I have contemplated this. It seems only logical to think,"you're using a soap to break up or dissolve body oil and dirt to rinse it away, how is it that all this super fatting is an effective moisturizer for your skin. Isn't it just rinsing away and putting your soap at that much more risk for rancidity the higher the supperfat?" I wonder if the super fat practice started as a kind of protection against lye heavy soap and really just dulls the effect of harsh soap and gives only the effect of moisturizing because the soap isn't drying your skin as it did with minimal sf. If that's so then its actually not moisturizing at all, it's just not as drying-right? When I think moisturizing, I think "added moisture". I can't imagine oils remaining on your skin to moisturizer. It just seems to totally contradict soap. I do agree though that sf does minimize the harshness of soap and safe guard against to much lye. I'm no expert (or chemist) that's just my plain Jane 2¢ worth. I typically sf between 3% if I'm doing a 100% full fat coconut milk soap or 5% if just using water.

 

[new12soap]

Not sure why we are resurrecting a 5-year old thread, but yes you are correct, there is no such thing as a "moisturizing" soap, they are simply more or less cleansing.

 

[SoapSap]

I have some soap formulas that do leave my skin feeling softer and I believe I feel some of the oil left on my skin.

I also have used lesser super-fatted soap that has left my skin feeling tight and dry.

So, I really think it all those precious oils and butters we use do not just wash away!

As far as herbs and Vitamin E, etc. I think those are washed away for the most part. I don't see how they would be absorbed when they barely stay on our skin.